UK Weekender 2002 @ Camber Sands, East Sussex

8/9 & 10^thNovember 2002 - The UK's 1st Jungle Weekender!

Having been billed as ‘the UK’s first Jungle Weekender’ with Radio 1 broadcasting live on the Saturday night with DJ’s Fabio & Grooverider and live on Digital Radio, 1 Extra on Sunday this weekend always promised to be large. The question was, just how large exactly?

The mission getting there was more challenging than normal with the ‘company car’ getting a little hot under the bonnet, and requiring fresh top-ups of water every half hour! Nevertheless we arrived a little late, steamy and irate around 11pm on the Friday night only to find we weren’t allowed to drive on to the site due to the limited parking restrictions! Argh! Instead we had to park up ironically outside the local church (right next door) and lug all our raving gear including our office ‘sound system’ down to the main reception to check in and then typically to the other end of the complex to find our chalet. The moral to this whinge is this: Get a decent motor. Arrive bloody early for the next UK Weekender! Arrange the tickets as much in advance as possible (those who book first get the closest chalets!).

Once we’d ditched our stuff, freshened up, caned a beer and spliff we jetted off to check out what was going on in the arenas…   We caught the end of Jules’ set in the Devious Arena (in the main room), he thumped out tune after tune from his banging trance selection, leaving us with a feel good factor only he can deliver, smiling and gagging for more.

After chatting with some random dudes from, er well some random dudes, it became apparent that the quality of muff was much improved on previous weekenders and likewise some of the ladies we were with had fun pointing at pumped pecks on display from sweaty semi naked ravers…

It was then on to the Drum & Bass Arena downstairs hosted by the well renowned and respected promoters Innovation. We were just in time for Fabio & Grooverider’s bone shaking performance being broadcast live to the world via Radio one. The vibe in here was the kind you can only generally achieve when Radio One infiltrate a venue with giant flashing ‘On Air’ signs and a live broadcast to the world, amplifying the crowd’s electrified charge.

We soon hear the rumour that the Weekender has sold out adding to the exclusiveness of the event. The heavily influenced D & B crowd seems to be one of a fairly Nu-Skool set of fresh faced clubbers and early experimenters, mixed with fewer, more experienced Old Skool heads, some having championed over a 7 hour drive to get this weekend of hedonism by the sea.

After Fabio & Groove rounded things off around 3am we headed for a funky retreat in the Outrageous room. Ministry Of Sound residents Tee Smith & Gareth Cooke were teaming up for twice the madness, twice the fun whilst catering for the more discerning dance-floor divas and dudes amongst us.

We partied on here till close at 5am and managed to find the onsite shop still serving alcohol! Result, we’ve died and gone to Heaven (not the club)! Obviously it was take outs all round for some very happily messed up party goers.

On ‘planet Weekender’ the party never stops, quite literally. There’s always some messed up nutters monkeying around, trying to wake up there light-weight mates that passed out hours earlier with the only key to the chalet! Alternatively follow the relentless pounding coming from the loudest chalet and invite yourself in for tea and (disco) biscuits*! After more ‘substance research’ and hours of chatting shite we bail/pass out.

Saturday brings unwanted sunshine, hangovers, more spliffs, and beer and vodka drenched cornflakes for breakfast. A few messy hours late and some bright spark (namely Rolley) has the stupidly obvious idea of eating, after a trip back to the on site shop we stock up and cook our full English, with plenty of Hash Browns.

Now for our evening workout we get to the main arena just in time to catch the sassy Anne Savage doing her thing and banging em out faster than a dirty old man in a rain mac! Her tough and tightly weaved set spins webs of mayhem across the room, leaving a look of shear delight wherever she goes. Spreading the love she immediately shoots off for destination ‘Pyramid Centre’ (Portsmouth I think) leaving Gatecrasher’s Scott Bond driving the wheels of steel - he carries the flow of heavenly thumping beats through the next hour or so before Sonique stole the show for many people that night, however I think unjustly she’s seems to have lost a lot of her credibility to the anti-pop clubbers within.

At the same time Special Agents L Double & Mickey Finn were tearing it up live on BBC’s Radio 1’s sister station Digital 1 Extra. The Innovation Arena witnessed a breath taking live PA from the genius Shy FX followed by DJ sets from Nicky Blackmarket and Mampi Swift winning the crowd’s complete admiration.

Over in the Outrageous funky room we were impressed by a Funky Mother Funker called Lee Dagger, his choice of choons and style of mixing were nothing short of excellence and immediately made him standout among the rest - one to watch so if you do get a chance!

We hook up finally with the competition winners, Lici and Co who’d been dolled up the night before in Silver Fairy Wings and a Nurses outfit! … hmm Interesting.

Back in the Devious Arena and Radio 1’s Daniel Bailey was maintaining the momentum ready steady style for the gorgeous Lisa Pin Up who was licensed the final say of the evening’s tunage concoction… well at least in the venue anyway! To be honest Lisa can do no wrong in my glazed eyes, an amazing DJ with an individual version of quality Chunky Tech-House doubled up with a stunning look about her (& rumours about her former Pin Up modelling career adding to it all) she just oozes sex appeal - ah, we love you Lisa xx …

Sunday inevitably means ‘the End is Nigh’ as reality checks in and Monday morning looms. As we consult the unusually free pull out guide, all is not lost with the line-up remaining as strong as smack with DJs Eddie Halliwell, Brandon Block, Devious D, Mickey Finn, Slipmatt, and Ray Keith all still to take their position.

We sampled DJ Magazine No 35 DJ in the world, the young Eddie Halliwell before getting very distracted by the sofas in the chalet and ample bifters - a quick trip via the Outrageous room for one last funkatron, the incredible Tweet’s "Boogie" remix came on and placed the icing on our Weekender's cakes perfectly… Yum Yum

A much busier weekender than I’ve seen at this venue before with a new fresh crowd, highly motivated and energetic - could this be the start of a new Era, we thinks so!!

Thanks to everyone at UK Weekenders and congratulations on one wicked and successful party! Pictures courtesy of the lovely people @ www.ISawYouOnTheDanceFloor.com many thanks to Christian & MadDog the photographer, those wishing to see more pics from this or other Dance Floors please check them out.

For more info www.UKWeekenders.co.uk / www.Innovation.gb.com